President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has expressed strong support for public protests sparked by recent revelations of corruption in flood-control projects, saying that if he weren’t the country’s leader, he would likely join the demonstrators himself.
Speaking during a press conference on Monday, Marcos addressed growing public unrest following reports of anomalies in infrastructure spending. The president emphasized that he understands the outrage and frustration being voiced on the streets.
“Since this has all been exposed… well, actually it is known to many people — but is now exposed to the general public, do you blame them for going out on the streets?” he asked. “If I weren’t president, I might be out on the streets with them,” Marcos added, acknowledging the legitimacy of the protests.
When asked whether he feared the Philippine protests could escalate like the movements in Indonesia and Nepal, Marcos was quick to assure the public that such unrest only happens when leaders fail to act.
“That is only if we do not do anything about it. You have to remember, I brought this up. And it is my interest that we find a solution to what has become a very egregious problem,” he stated.
He also underscored the importance of maintaining peace during demonstrations. “Let them know, shout it all out, demonstrate… but just keep it peaceful,” he said in Filipino. “Because once it’s no longer peaceful, that becomes difficult. The police will then have to do their duty to maintain peace and order.”
Marcos reiterated that he harbors no ill will toward those who are angry and want to protest, even saying he encourages civic expression. “To show that you are enraged, angry, disappointed that you want justice and fairness, what’s wrong with that?” he said.
“I want to show that there is justice and there is fairness. I want to hold these people accountable just like they do, so I don’t blame them, not one bit,” Marcos concluded, affirming his commitment to transparency and accountability in the face of public outcry.
